Zoho's Sridhar Vembu unveils new mission, nearly 6,000 km away from India

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has revealed a new mission that will take him nearly 6,000 km away to Japan, where he plans to build partnerships with small and mid-sized companies in rural regions and connect them with businesses in small-town and rural India.

In a post on X, Vembu said he would travel to Japan to explore partnerships with companies that have preserved traditional manufacturing skills and craftsmanship.

"I am heading to Japan tomorrow. The agenda is to partner with small to mid-sized companies in small town Japan and bring them to small town and rural India," he wrote.



Vembu said the initiative seeks to restore India's tradition of skilled craftsmanship, referring to the Tamil term "Aasaari" and the Sanskrit word "Vishwakarma." He noted that many smaller companies in rural Japan continue to uphold these values and have built global expertise in industries that demand precision and intricate craftsmanship.

"Japanese are world leaders in areas that require intricate craftsmanship," he said.



The Zoho founder also credited his friend Britto for shaping the initiative. Originally from Madurai, Britto spent decades in Japan, where he gained a deep understanding of the country's business culture before founding Takumi Motion Controls. Vembu pointed out that "Takumi" translates to "craftsman" in Japanese.

"I am guided by my friend Britto (Britto-san! ), originally from Madurai, who spent decades in Japan and understood the culture and companies well," Vembu wrote.

Vembu said their shared admiration for Japanese craftsmanship inspired the initiative.


"Britto-san and I bonded over our admiration of Japanese craftsmanship. This has become a mission for us," he added.

Earlier this week, Vembu had revealed that 90% of Zoho's revenue comes from outside India. About 2% of Zoho's revenue comes from the government in India, Vembu said in a post on X. According to the company's website, Zoho has offices in USA, The Netherlands, China, Japan, Australia, Germany, and South Africa.

Vembu's statement came amid Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visit to India. Takaichi was on Thursday accorded a warm ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. This is Takaichi's first official visit to India. She is visiting the country at Modi's invitation from July 1 to 3 for the 16th India-Japan annual summit.